Third & Ugly
As if war and recession weren’t enough, we now face another miserable development: The Tennessee Titans are 0-3. When you mix in the important and significant troubles of our planet with the athletic sideshows that are supposed to give us levity and happiness, it’s fair to say that Middle Tennessee has been sucked into a black hole of misery.
Two years ago, the St. Louis Rams won the Super Bowl. Last year, the Rams’ quarterback got injured, the team lost some of its spark, the defense fell apart, and it didn’t make it past the first round of the playoffs. This year, the Rams reemerged as the most dangerous team in the league.
The Titans may very well be having a down year like the 2000 Rams. It may be even worse.
From our own cheap seats down at the Scene, we offer a random assessment of the team’s problems and challenges. Bearing in mind that the Scene editorial staff couldn’t field a kickball team against St. Cecilia girls’ school, we do find ourselves in full command of the channel changer, and, thus, are entitled to our opinions.
Problem: Fighting Words Last year, the Titans brass got in the Baltimore Ravens’ faces in the playoff game, picking fights over the stadium Jumbotrons in a feisty, pre-game video clip. It only provided fuel to the Ravens, who beat us in what amounted to an NFL mugging. This year, Titans coach Jeff Fisher reportedly told his players that he didn’t care if they lost, so long as they got physical against the Ravens and brought a “two-by-four” to the game. Ravens coaches again used the message to pump up their players. We were destroyed.
Problem: Injuries Quarterback Steve McNair’s shoulder injury is serious, and he knows another bad hit could put him on the operating table. The high ankle sprain to Eddie George, along with a stunted training camp due to a nagging toe injury, still may be having an effect. Tight end Frank Wycheck, defensive back Samari Rolle, defensive back Donald Mitchell, and more top players are suffering.
Problem: A New Team The players we lost this year removed some important connective tissue from our defense and offense. We lost defensive back Denard Walker, fullback Lorenzo Neal, defensive end Kenny Holmes, and safety Marcus Robertson. These guys do not go quietly. “It’s not the same team as last year,” the Ravens’ ever-loquacious Shannon Sharpe told reporters.
Problem: Mental Mistakes Penalties have plagued us in every game so far this season. “We aren’t doing the little things we did last year,” Titans center Bruce Matthews told The Tennessean. Tackles that led to third-down stops are being missed regularly. Against Miami we came out flat, executing plays as if it were still the pre-season. Against Jacksonville on 4th and 1, we ran Eddie George up the middle, using the element of...surprise! Against the Ravens, we tried physical intimidation.
This is still a great team. It has a nucleus of all-pro players. What we’re experiencing is the end of the honeymoon. For the first time in this city’s romance with our pro football team, the relationship is being tested. It’ll be interesting to see how fans react to the upcoming weeks. In the meantime, Nashville needs to calm down, rally behind the blue and white, and come together. Sound familiar? It’s how you get through tough, uncertain times.
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